Galfond Challenge: 'VeniVidi1993' Now Up €439,817 After Day 8
The ‘Galfond Challenge‘ with Phil Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993‘ battling at €100-€200 PLO on Run It Once Poker continued on Friday. The two played through another 940 hands of their 25,000-hand match, with ‘VeniVidi1993’ once again finishing as the session’s winner. On Friday, ‘VeniVidi1993’ finished up €60,743.37 and he’s now up €439,817.14 overall.
The two have now played 5,700 hands total, and they’ve had eight separate sessions. That puts this match of the Galfond Challenge at 22.8% complete. Friday’s loss marked the seventh losing session for Galfond. Galfond’s average outcomes through the first eight sessions are -€54,977.14 per session, -€7,716.09 per 100 hands, and -38.58 big blinds per 100 hands.
As a reminder, Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ are set to play 25,000 hands of €100-€200 PLO, buying in for €20,000 starting stacks each time they play. There is an agreement to reset stack sizes a few times during each session, and at any point one side can quit the match. At the end of the 25,000 hands, or when one side quits, there will be side betting action that will be settled. Galfond is risking €200,000 that he’ll be up over 25,000 hands, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ is risking €100,000 that he’ll be up when it’s all said and done. The amounts differ because Galfond offered 2-1 odds on the side bet.
Through the first couple hundred hands on Friday, Galfond was down more than two buy-ins. Things got worse for him with the following hand, when ‘VeniVidi1993’ made a diamond flush in a pot worth more than €40,000.
With €3,599 in the middle on the flop, Galfond checked and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €1,835.49. Galfond put in a check-raise to €5,400, and ‘VeniVidi1993’ came back with an all-in shove for €18,598 total. Galfond called.
When the cards flipped up, Galfond showed the . ‘VeniVidi1993’ had the . The turn was the and river the . Galfond made trip aces on the river, but the same card gave ‘VeniVidi1993’ a diamond flush, so he won the €40,795 pot.
Shortly after that, Galfond was able to win a pot of more than €40,000 to pull some back.
With €5,398.50 in the middle on the paired board of , ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet €4,048.88 and Galfond called. The river was the and ‘VeniVidi1993’ bet the full pot for €13,496.26. That was enough to cover Galfond, who had €13,351.37 left. Galfond quickly called with the for top full house. ‘VeniVidi1993’ showed the and the pot, worth €40,199, was shipped Galfond’s way.
Although this next hand didn’t go to showdown, it was another sizable pot that went the way of ‘VeniVidi1993,’ who got the job done with a big raise on the river.
After Galfond checked the board, ‘VeniVidi1993’ fired a pot-sized bet of €2,805.66. Galfond called to see the complete the board on the river. Galfond opted to lead with a pot-sized bet of €8,416.98 and ‘VeniVidi1993’ fought back with a raise to €33,667.92. Galfond had a little more than €18,000 behind and opted to fold, which gave ‘VeniVidi1993’ another healthy pot.
Later in the match, ‘VeniVidi1993’ won another pot of more than €40,000, again when the two players got the money in on the flop. Let’s take a look.
Galfond raised to €600 on the button and ‘VeniVidi1993’ reraised to €1,800. Galfond called and the flop came down . ‘VeniVidi1993’ led with a bet of €3,599 and Galfond raised to €14,396. Galfond had just over €4,000 behind and ‘VeniVidi1993’ put him all in. Galfond called to create a pot worth €40,522.56.
Galfond had the . He was up against the for ‘VeniVidi1993.’ The turn was the and the river was the . With two pair, aces and queens, ‘VeniVidi1993’ was awarded the pot.
Challenge Results To Date
Hands Played | Daily Winner | Amount Won | |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 (Jan. 22) | 655 | VeniVidi1993 | €72,572.68 |
Day 2 (Jan. 23) | 715 | Phil Galfond | €2,615.26 |
Day 3 (Jan. 24) | 557 | VeniVidi1993 | €84,437.52 |
Day 4 (Jan. 25) | 581 | VeniVidi1993 | €17,544.87 |
Day 5 (Jan. 27) | 726 | VeniVidi1993 | €155,063.52 |
Day 6 (Jan. 28) | 703 | VeniVidi1993 | €13.31 |
Day 7 (Jan. 30) | 823 | VeniVidi1993 | €52,057.13 |
Day 8 (Jan. 31) | 940 | VeniVidi1993 | €60,743.37 |
– | – | – | – |
Total | 5,700 | VeniVidi1993 | €439,817.14 |
If Galfond Wins, Everyone Wins
During the Galfond Challenge, Run It Once Poker players have a chance to added rewards. Through Run It Once Poker’s ‘Splash the Winnings’ promotion, every player on Run It Once Poker has the chance to win on any day that Galfond wins in the challenge.
During the first two weeks of the Galfond Challenge, on any day when Galfond is profitable in a match, Run It Once Poker’s ‘Splash the Pot’ promotion will be doubled. For more information, including how you can sign up for Run It Once Poker, check out PocketFives’ dedicated page for the site.
What’s Next for the Galfond Challenge?
Eight sessions and 5,700 hands are in the books for this first match of the Galfond Challenge. On Saturday, Galfond and ‘VeniVidi1993’ will be back for more, starting at 11 a.m. ET for the ninth day.
Be sure to stay tuned to PocketFives for more on the Galfond Challenge.